Published: Friday, October 26, 2012 at 12:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 26, 2012 at 12:35 p.m.

A host of women, united in the battle against breast cancer, applauded as Pardee Hospital was presented a check for more than $134,100 for “battle provisions” in a fight that's making a difference.

“We not only met, but we exceeded our goal of (raising) $100,000 this year,” said Donnalee Wermeister, a member of Pardee Hospital Foundation's Women Helping Women board, inside a Kenmure Country Club dining room Friday afternoon.

The foundation has raised more than $1.6 million since 1998 to purchase vital medical equipment for cancer detection, care and prevention and help uninsured patients receive life-saving health care, mammograms and other screenings at the hospital.

A group of women concerned about rising breast cancer statistics formed the Women Helping Women coalition, which has helped nearly 1,000 Pardee patients receive life-saving care.

The women draw inspiration from the survival stories of other strong, determined women. Dana Carpenter, a colon cancer survivor, and Jean Faulkner, a survivor of breast cancer, were honored as “Women of Hope” at Friday's luncheon.

“The Women of Hope honor was created in 1998 to recognize women in our community who, during their personal health struggles, have inspired others with their bravery, perseverance and hope,” said Amy Dillon, 2012 Women Helping Women co-chair.

Thirty-four Woman of Hope portraits decorate the walls of the Elizabeth Riley Breast Center inside the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Pardee Hospital. Portraits of Carpenter and Faulkner will soon add to the center's collection.

Carpenter, originally from Miami, was working as a financial planner in Boston in 1989 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

“She didn't miss a day of work during a year of chemo treatments and made a full recovery,” Dillon said. “Twenty-two years later, during a trip to Disney World with her family, she started feeling winded and fatigued. She did not tell anyone what she was feeling because she wanted her family to enjoy their vacation and not worry about her. After she returned home, she still did not feel well and knew that something was wrong.”

Carpenter called her doctor and went to the Pardee Hospital emergency room. She nter needed a four-way by-pass and a heart valve.

“During her recovery, her chest incision burst and her sternum cracked from advanced osteoporosis,” Dillon said. “She was rushed back to the hospital for more surgery. Her doctors gave her a 2 percent chance of recovery. Thankfully, she survived and today she is fully recovered.”

Faulkner, born at Pardee Hospital, followed in her mother's footsteps working as an obstetrics nurse for 32 years.

“Three years ago she discovered a lump in her breast after experiencing pain while playing tennis. She didn't have any of the usual risk factors for cancer,” Dillon said. Faulkner “was diagnosed with breast cancer on her grandson's 2-month birthday. She was afraid that she might not live to watch him grow up.”

Today, Faulkner stands as a survivor.

“Her advice to others facing cancer is to let other people help you, don't try to do it yourself, stay positive and look on the bright side,” Dillon said.

Guest inspirational speaker Susan Sparks, who spent 10 years working as a trial lawyer and moonlighting as a comedian before becoming a pastor, had a few words of advice and humor for the crowd.

She noted that going from a lawyer to a pastor was quite a jump.

“Those professors were not ready to teach theology to a comedian, bless their hearts,” she said.

Guests erupted with laughter, remembering her earlier joke that you can say anything about anybody you want in the South as long as you follow it with “bless your heart.”

“This is why I do what I do in a nutshell: If you can laugh at yourself, if you can find the courage, the strength to laugh at yourself, then you can forgive yourself. And if you can forgive yourself, then you can forgive others,” Sparks said.

“It doesn't matter how many fancy cars or clothes or fabulous rings or great food or whatever we manage to accumulate in this life because the size of our funeral will always depend on the weather,” she quipped.

Ending her keynote address on an inspirational note, she shared the story of a hospice clown caring for a little girl with cancer. The girl asked where she would go after she died. The clown told her heaven. She asked where the clown would go after she died and the Hospice caregiver answered, “clown heaven.”

“Where is clown heaven?” the little girl asked. The hospice worker told her that it was where balloons that are released into the sky end up. The little girl wanted to see this clown heaven and asked, “how can I get there?”

Thinking on her feet, the clown gave her a red nose and told her all she needed to do was to “go out with your nose on.” A few weeks later, the little girl passed away wearing her red nose.

“Life can change in the blink of an eye,” Sparks said. “Try to leave things better than you found it.”

<p>A host of women, united in the battle against breast cancer, applauded as Pardee Hospital was presented a check for more than $134,100 for “battle provisions” in a fight that's making a difference. </p><p>“We not only met, but we exceeded our goal of (raising) $100,000 this year,” said Donnalee Wermeister, a member of Pardee Hospital Foundation's Women Helping Women board, inside a Kenmure Country Club dining room Friday afternoon.</p><p>The foundation has raised more than $1.6 million since 1998 to purchase vital medical equipment for cancer detection, care and prevention and help uninsured patients receive life-saving health care, mammograms and other screenings at the hospital. </p><p>A group of women concerned about rising breast cancer statistics formed the Women Helping Women coalition, which has helped nearly 1,000 Pardee patients receive life-saving care.</p><p>The women draw inspiration from the survival stories of other strong, determined women. Dana Carpenter, a colon cancer survivor, and Jean Faulkner, a survivor of breast cancer, were honored as “Women of Hope” at Friday's luncheon.</p><p>“The Women of Hope honor was created in 1998 to recognize women in our community who, during their personal health struggles, have inspired others with their bravery, perseverance and hope,” said Amy Dillon, 2012 Women Helping Women co-chair.</p><p>Thirty-four Woman of Hope portraits decorate the walls of the Elizabeth Riley Breast Center inside the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Pardee Hospital. Portraits of Carpenter and Faulkner will soon add to the center's collection.</p><p>Carpenter, originally from Miami, was working as a financial planner in Boston in 1989 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.</p><p>“She didn't miss a day of work during a year of chemo treatments and made a full recovery,” Dillon said. “Twenty-two years later, during a trip to Disney World with her family, she started feeling winded and fatigued. She did not tell anyone what she was feeling because she wanted her family to enjoy their vacation and not worry about her. After she returned home, she still did not feel well and knew that something was wrong.”</p><p>Carpenter called her doctor and went to the Pardee Hospital emergency room. She nter needed a four-way by-pass and a heart valve.</p><p>“During her recovery, her chest incision burst and her sternum cracked from advanced osteoporosis,” Dillon said. “She was rushed back to the hospital for more surgery. Her doctors gave her a 2 percent chance of recovery. Thankfully, she survived and today she is fully recovered.”</p><p>Faulkner, born at Pardee Hospital, followed in her mother's footsteps working as an obstetrics nurse for 32 years.</p><p>“Three years ago she discovered a lump in her breast after experiencing pain while playing tennis. She didn't have any of the usual risk factors for cancer,” Dillon said. Faulkner “was diagnosed with breast cancer on her grandson's 2-month birthday. She was afraid that she might not live to watch him grow up.”</p><p>Today, Faulkner stands as a survivor.</p><p>“Her advice to others facing cancer is to let other people help you, don't try to do it yourself, stay positive and look on the bright side,” Dillon said.</p><p>Guest inspirational speaker Susan Sparks, who spent 10 years working as a trial lawyer and moonlighting as a comedian before becoming a pastor, had a few words of advice and humor for the crowd. </p><p>She noted that going from a lawyer to a pastor was quite a jump. </p><p>“Those professors were not ready to teach theology to a comedian, bless their hearts,” she said. </p><p>Guests erupted with laughter, remembering her earlier joke that you can say anything about anybody you want in the South as long as you follow it with “bless your heart.”</p><p>“This is why I do what I do in a nutshell: If you can laugh at yourself, if you can find the courage, the strength to laugh at yourself, then you can forgive yourself. And if you can forgive yourself, then you can forgive others,” Sparks said.</p><p>“It doesn't matter how many fancy cars or clothes or fabulous rings or great food or whatever we manage to accumulate in this life because the size of our funeral will always depend on the weather,” she quipped. </p><p>Ending her keynote address on an inspirational note, she shared the story of a hospice clown caring for a little girl with cancer. The girl asked where she would go after she died. The clown told her heaven. She asked where the clown would go after she died and the Hospice caregiver answered, “clown heaven.”</p><p>“Where is clown heaven?” the little girl asked. The hospice worker told her that it was where balloons that are released into the sky end up. The little girl wanted to see this clown heaven and asked, “how can I get there?”</p><p>Thinking on her feet, the clown gave her a red nose and told her all she needed to do was to “go out with your nose on.” A few weeks later, the little girl passed away wearing her red nose.</p><p>“Life can change in the blink of an eye,” Sparks said. “Try to leave things better than you found it.”</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>